Machine for expanding sheet metal



Dec. 14 1926. R 16,504

H;SALMON ETAL MACHINE FOR EXPANDING SHEET METAL Original File Aug s 27, 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 14 1926.

H. SALMON ET AL MACHINE FOR EXPANDING SHEET METAL 4 Sheets-Sht 2 Original Filed. August 27, 1520 Dec. 14,1926. Re, 16,504

- H. SALMON ET AL.

MACHINE FOR EXPANDING SHEET METAL 7 original Filed August 27. 1920 4' Sheets-Sheet 5 Dec. 14', 1926.

' H. SALMON ET AL MACHINE FOR EXPANDING SHEET METAL 4 Sheets- Sheet 4 o l Filed August 27, 1920 I I I I I I I l U l II I n HI I I IM A "I ia:

Reiasued Dec. 14, 1926.

' UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE.

HARRY SALMON AND HARRY BOOTON, OF WESTMINSTER, LONDON, ENGLAND, AS- SIGNOBS TO THE EXPANDED METAL COMPANY, LIMITED, OF WESTMINSTER, LON- DON, ENGLAND.

MACHINE FOR EXPANDING SHEET Original No. 1,408,647, dated March 7, 1622, Serial No; 406,424, filed August Britain September 10, 1919'. Application for reissue filed October 12 1928. Serial No. 666,248.

It has before been proposed to expand a slitted metal sheet by means of a machine,

having two divergent series of pairs of rollers or two: diverging pairs of chains which grip the ed es or selvages of the sheet and feed them through the machine whilst compelling them to travel along divergent paths so that the sheet is expanded.

We have found that it is unnecessary to employ for gripping the selvages of the sheet feeding or travelling means, suc as rollers or chains.

According to this invention we employ a air of fixed divergent guides orexpander aws, each of which has throughout its length a slot along which the selvages of the sheet can'travel and which is provlded with a shoulder behind which the u -turned selvage or extreme strand of the s eet engages so that the selvage cannot be ulled out of the slot, but must follow the 3 0t to the end of the guide.

' ceeds throu h the machine, as it leaves the slitting rol ers and the rollers which displace the selvages-out of the plane of the" rest of the sheet, without any further assistance, but in other cases we may provide at the further ends of the divergent guides or expander jaws a pair 'of pin wheels to engage the selvages of the expanded sheet and to draw it through the machine. The divergent guides may be either straight or:

stepped in such a way that the central portion of the sheet is expanded first and that subsequently portions on each' side of the centre are released from the guides and expanded successively.

In the accompanyi illustrate the invention 4 Figure 1 is a side elevation,

Figure 2 is a plan thereof,

Figure 3 is a side view showing the 'selvage deforming rolls, guides and expanded sheet,

Figure 4 is a detail end view showing a sheet fully expanded, and pin wheels, and

Figure 5 is a detail end view ofthe rolls for deforming the selvage.

Fi res 6, 7, and 8 are sections on the lines A- B-B, C-G, respectively, of Figure 3, Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 all being to a larger scale.

l are selvage deforming rolls in bearings In some cases the sheet pro-' ng' drawings which.

14 and driven through spur wheels 15. Each same angle as the flange 2, the flanges 2 and 3 of one roll being adapted to co-operate with the flanges 3 and 2 of the other roll.

When a metal sheet 4 which has previously been slitted in any suitable manner so as to form-parallel strips connected by junctions of uncut metal is passed through the rolls 1, theselvages 5 are bent at intervals at right angles to the plane of the sheet and are then also doubled or bent back in the opposite direction as is clearly shown in Figures 5 to 8. 7

After passing through the selvage deforming rolls 1, the sheet 4 enters a guide 6 having in it a slot 7 extending the width of the sheet 4, and a groove 8 at each end of the slot 7 along which theselvages 5 can travel. On leaving the guide 6 the sheet 4 enters a pair of fixed divergent guides or expander 'aws 9 each of which is formed of a top and ottom plate arranged a suitable distance apart to form a slot 10 extending throu hout its length along which the selvage 5 an part of the sheet 4 can travel; formed in the outer plate of each guide-9 is a groove 11 the inner ace of'which forms a shoulder behind which the upturned selvage 5 of the sheet 4 engages so that the selvage cannot be pulled out of the slot 10 but must follow the slot 10 of the slots 10 so t at only the central por tion of the sheet 4 is expanded, portions on each side of'the centre of the sheet being subsequently released fromthe slots 10 in the guides 9 and expanded successively until at the end of the guides the whole of'the sheet 4 between the selva es 5 has been ex panded, see Fi res 3, 4, and 8.

At the end 0 the guides or expander jaws 9 but entirely independent thereof is arranged a pair of pin wheels 12 having chain wheels driven-by chains 13 actuated by chain-wheels 136 on the 'sfame'axes as the 27, 1920, and in arm no I selvage rolls 1. The pin wheels 12 engage the selvages of the expanded sheet 4 and draw it through the guides.

It will be observed that the fixed divergent guides or jaws are continuous or unbroken and that they are provided with means which engage bent or deformed edge portions or selvages previously specially formed in the previously slitted sheet, in such manner as to prevent the sheet from being dislaced laterally while being expanded. By ocating the sheet feeding means beyond one end of the guides or jaws a very simple and efficient construction is provided, inasmuch as the guides are not complicated by being tlifmselves equipped with feed rolls or the li e.

Though we prefer draw off the sheet 4, these are not necessary.

. What we claim is I 1. In machines for expanding sheet metal, a pair of fixed divergent guides having means adapted to engage each selvage of the sheet and enclose portions of the sheet in such a manner that only that part of the sheet which is not enclosed can expand, and means independent of the guides for forcing the sheet through the guides.

2. In machines for expanding sheet metal.

" a pair of fixed divergent and tapered guides having means adapted to engage each selvage of the sheet and enclose portions of the sheet in such a manner that only that part of the sheet which is not enclosed can-expand, and means independent of the guides for forcing the sheetthrough the guides. 1

3. In machines for expanding sheet metal, a pair of fixed stepped divergent and tapered guides having means adapted to engage each selvage of the sheet and enclose portions of the sheet in such a manner that only that part of the sheet which is not enclosed can expand, and means independent of the guides for forcing the sheet through the guides.

4a. In machines for expanding sheet metal a pair of divergent guides adapted to engage each selvage of the sheet and enclose portions of the sheet in such a'manner that only that part of the sheet which is notenclosed can expand, and rolls adapted to deform the selvages and force the sheet through the guides.

In machines for expanding sheet metal, a pair of divergent and tapered guides adapted to engage each selvage of the sheet and enclose portions of the sheet in such a manner that only that part of the sheet which is not enclosed can expand, and rolls adapted to deform the selvages and force the sheet through the guides.

6. In machines for expanding sheet metal. a pair of stepped divergent and tapered guides adapted to engage each selvage of the sheet and enclose portions of'the sheet in to use pin wheels 12 to such a manner that only that part of, the sheet which is not enclosed can expand, and rolls adapted to deform the selvages and force the sheet through the guides.

7. In machines for expanding sheet metal, a pair of divergent guides having grooves adapted to engage each selvage of the sheet and enclose portions of the'sheet in such a manner that only that part of the sheet which is not enclosed can expand, and means independent of the guides for forcing the sheet through the guides.

8. In machines for expanding sheet metal, a pair of divergent and tapered guides having grooves adapted to engage each selvage of the sheet and enclose portions of the sheet in such a manner that only that part of the sheet which is not enclosed can expand, and means independent of the guides for forcing the sheet through the guides.

9. In machines for expanding sheet metal,

a pair of divergent guides having grooves.

adapted to engageeach selvage of the sheet and enclose portions of the sheet in such a manner that only that part of the sheet which is not enclosed can expand, and rolls adapted to deform the selvages and. force the sheet through the guides.

10. In machines for expanding sheet metal, a pair of divergent and tapered guides having grooves adapted to engage each sel- Vage of the sheet and enclose portions of the sheet in such a manner that only that part of the sheet which is not enclosed can expand, and rolls adapted to deform the selvages and. force the sheet through the guides.

11. In machines for expanding sheet metal, rolls adapted to deform the selvages of the sheet, a guide having a slot extending the width of the sheet, and having grooves adapted to receive the selvages, and a pair of divergent and tapered guides having grooves adapted to receive the selvages.

12. In machines for expanding sheet metal, rolls adapted to deform the selvages of the sheet, a guide having a slot extend ing the width of the sheet and having grooves adapted to receive the selvages,.and a pair of stepped divergent and tapered guides having grooves adapted to receive the selvages.

13. In machines for expanding sheet metal, a pair of divergent guides having means adapted to engage each selvage of the sheet and enclose portions of the sheet in such a manner that only that part of the sheet which is not enclosed can expand. means independent of the guides for forcing thesheet throughthe guides, and pin wheels adapted to engage the selvages of the expanded sheet.

14. In machines for expanding sheet metal, a pair of divergent and tapered guides having means-adapted to engage each selvage of the sheet and enclose portions of the sheet in such a manner that only that part of the sheet which is not enclosed can expand, means independent of the guides for forcing the sheet through the guides, and pin wheels adapted to engage the selvages of the expanded sheet.

2' closeportions of the sheet in such a manner that only that part of the sheet which is not enclosed can expand, rolls adapted to deform the selvages and force the sheet through the guides, and pin wheels adapted I to en'gagethe Selvages of the expanded sheet.

17. In machines for expanding sheet metal, a pair of divergent and tapered guides adapted to engage each selvage of the sheet and enclose portions of the sheet in such a manner that only that part of the sheet which is not enclosed can expand, rolls adapted to deform the selvages and force the sheet through the guides, and pin wheels adapted to engage the selvages of the expanded sheet.

18. In machines for expanding sheet metal, a pair of stepped divergent and tapered guides adapted to engage each selvage of the sheet and enclose portions of the sheet in such amanner that only that part of the sheet which is not enclosed can expand, rolls adapted to deform the selvages and force the sheet through the guides, and pin wheels adapted to engage the selvages ofthe expanded sheet.

' 19. In machines for expanding sheet metal, a pair of divergent guides having grooves adapted to. engage each selvage of the sheetand enclose portions of the sheet in .such a manner that only that part of the sheet which is not enclosed can expand, means independent of the guides for forcing-the sheet through the guides, and pin wheels adapted to engage the selvages of the expanded sheet.

20. In machines for expanding sheet metal, a pair -of divergent and tapered guides having grooves adapted to engage each selvage of the sheet and enclose portions of the sheet in such a manner that only that part of the sheet which is not enclosed can expand, means independent of the guides for forcing the sheet through the guides, and pin wheels adapted to engage the selvages of the expanded sheet.

21. In machines for expanding sheet metal, a pair of divergent guides having grooves adapted to engage each selvage of the sheet and enclose portions of the sheet in such a manner that onlythat part of the sheet which is not enclosed can expand, rolls adapted to deformthe selvages and force the sheet through the guides and pin wheels adapted to engage the selvagesof the expanded sheet.

22. In machines for expanding sheet metal, a pair of divergent and tapered guides having grooves adapted 'to engage each selvage of. the sheet and enclose portions of the sheet in such a manner that only that part of the sheet which is not enclosed can expand, rolls adapted to deform the selvages and force the sheet thrdugh the guides, and pin wheels adapted to engage the selvages of the expanded sheet.

23. In machines for expanding sheet metal, .rolls adapted to deform the, selvages of the sheet, a guide having a slot extending the width of the sheet and having grooves adapted to receive the selvages, a pair of divergent and tapered guides having grooves adapted to receive the selvages, and pin wheels adapted to engage the selvages of the expanded-sheet.

24. In machines for expanding sheet metal, rolls adapted to deform the selvages of the sheet, a guide having a slot extending the Width of the sheet, and having grooves adapted to receive theselvages', a pair of stepped divergent and tapered guides having grooves adapted'to receive the selvages, and pin wheels adapted to engage the selvages of the expanded sheet.

25. A metal expanding machine includin a pair of divergent expander jaws adapte to receive a previously slitted grooved blank, guiding means carried by the jaws for said blank and non-cutting feeding elements for advancing the blank over the guides.

26. In 'a machine for expanding sheet metal, a pair of divergent expander jaws, guides at the edges of the jaws having-an interlocking engagement with the edge portions only of the sheet and continuous feeding means for advancing the sheet over the guides.

27. In a machine for expanding sheet metal, a pair of divergent expander jaws adapted to receive a reviousl slitted sheet, stationary sheet gui ing and holding means at the edges ofthe jaws and feedingmeans entirely independent of and removed from the jaws for advancing the sheet over the guide and holding means.

28. In a machine for expanding sheet metal, a pair of divergent expander jaws adapted to receive a previously slitted sheet,

guiding means carriedby the jaws for said sheet and non-cutting feeding elements independent of the jaws and removed therethe guides.

30. In a machine for expanding sheet metal, a pair of divergent expander jaws having means to engage each selvage of the sheet and enclose portions of the sheet in such a manner that only that part of the sheet which is not enclosed can expand, and feeding means located beyond one end of the jaws for advancing the sheet therethrough.

31. In a machine for expanding sheet metal, upper andlower divergent continuous guide members having means to engage each selvage of a previously slitted sheet to prevent lateral displacement thereof while being expanded and means independent of said members for advancing the sheet there- I through.

32. In a machine for expanding sheet metal, means for deforming the edges of the metal sheet, a pair of divergent guides having means to receive the deformed edges and means independent of the guides for advancing the sheet therethrough.

33. In a machine for expanding sheet meta1, means for deformin the longitudinal edges of the sheet, a pair 0% divergent guides having means to interlock with the deformed edges and means independent of the guides for advancing the sheet therethrough.

34. In a machine for expanding sheet metal, means for deforming the edges of a slitted sheet, a pair of fixed divergent guides having means to interlock with the deformed edges of the sheet and means located beyond one end of the guides for advancing the sheet therethrough.

HARRY SALMON. HARRY} BOOTON 

